Dark Angel (Casteel 2)

you need is work, and more work! Thank you for the

last ten days, and forgive me for being impulsive. I

promise not to waste your time again!"

"Heavenly!" he called, "Stop! Wait . . ." I didn't wait. Somehow I reached the saddle,

not caring if I did it right or wrong. My heels dug into

my mount's flanks, and she leaped forward while I

was blinded by silly tears, more angry with myself

than with him. I did everything wrong. My mare was

made confused and uncertain. To correct my mistakes

I yanked hard on the reins. Rearing upward almost

vertically, the mare snorted, pawed at the air, then

bolted forward, running wild and fast through the

woods. Low branches came at me one after another,

branches that could sweep me out of the saddle, break my neck, back, legs. With more luck than skill I managed to duck each branch. And the more I moved in the saddle, the more erratic my horse ran! My screams were like long, thin scarfs blowing behind me. Almost too late I remembered Troy's advice on how to cling to a runaway horse. I fell forward and clung to my mare's thick, brown mane. Over ravines and ditches, jumping dead trees felled by storms, my uncontrolled horse raced. Squeezing my eyes shut, I began to say her name over and over, trying to calm

her.

The next thing I knew she stumbled; I was

thrown from her back straight into a shallow ditch

half-full of slimy green rainwater. Scrambling to her

feet, my mare whinnied, shook herself, threw me a

disgusted look, and wheeled about to head for home,

leaving me stunned and shaken and hurting. I was also

missing my left boot. I felt a total fool as I lay

sprawled on my back in the fetid water, staring up

through the canopy of leaves to find the sun full in my

face.

God's punishment, I sourly thought, for

presuming too much! I should have known better than

to fall for the first man who made my blood run fast

and hot, especially after Cal, and Logan's rejection. No Casteel had ever won any prize! Why should I

think I was any better!